Lynn English Student Council raises money for cancer

LYNN – The Lynn English High School Student Council raised $1,200 during 10 days in October for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients campaign, but it was a ninth-grader who topped the fundraising ticket.Osayi Ayinal collected more than $250 aimed at fighting blood diseases. Three other students also did themselves and their school proud collecting more than $100 each. Angelica Martinez raised $188, Ryan Whittier pulled together $163 in donations and Justin Kim brought in $125. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society called the four students “fantastic examples of the type of student we have at Lynn English High.”The students will also be recognized for their accomplishments at the council’s next meeting in November.The Student Council is made up of one representative student from each of the school’s homerooms and meets monthly in the school’s library after school. Social studies teachers James Tidmarsh and Tim Ring serve as advisors for the council that adheres to 10 concepts and goals: Improve the academic and social environment at English High; promote student participation within the school and its community; encourage and support healthy living styles for young people; empower students to affect positive change in their school and community; serve as role models for younger students; preserve the practice of democracy; become a powerful force when all students participate; represent the interests and rights of students in the academic setting; identify community problems and create a plan to seek improvement; participate in community service projects planned by other entities.The council has conducted fundraisers for the Salvation Army as well as for breast cancer awareness, autism awareness and other worthy causes.This year the council chose to focus on fighting blood cancers. To do so, each member had either a collection box or can and were encouraged to get donations in school as well as at church and at their parents’ place of employment.In addition to knowing that they helped a worthy cause, the top collectors also received a ticket to the school’s homecoming dance, a free school 2013 spirit T-shirt and a Student Council pin.The students who actively collected also received a certificate of community service for their efforts.